38 C. IV. M. Poynter 



reviewed the literature and made a complete study of the artery 

 and its branches ; he showed that occasionally a large lateral epi- 

 gastric ran parallel to the inferior epigastric and might be a prob- 

 lem in abdominal paracentesis. Cases have been reported by Ram- 

 say (1812), Dubrueil (1847), Qwain (1844), Srb (i860), Gruber 

 (1867), Stieda (1892). Levi (1902) confirmed Stieda's observa- 

 tions and also found an accessory artery in 10 cases. 



ARTERIES OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY 



A. FEMORALIS 



For convenience of description the arteries of the lower ex- 

 tremity may be considered together. The comparative study of 

 these arteries may be found by reference to Zuckerkandl (1895). 

 In 1890 Hochstetter showed that the primary artery of the mam- 

 malian thigh was that accompanying the ischiadic nerve, and that 

 the femoral took over the function somewhat later. Leboucq 

 (1893) described the ischiadic artery in the human embryo. De- 

 Vriese (1902) gave the first systematic account of the develop- 

 ment of the lower limb arteries in the human embryo. To this 

 work Senior (1919) added a detailed account of the development 

 of the popliteal portion of the axial artery and showed that the 

 adult popliteal was made up of the proximal part-of the embryonal 

 popliteal (profunda) and the superficial popliteal. He disagreed 

 with DeVriese as to the identity of the arteria interossea and 

 peronea. 



Persistence of the Embryonal Axial Artery 



In these cases the inferior gluteal continues downward as the 

 supply for the leg and foot, while the femoral terminates at the 

 knee, Bell (1826), Green (1832), Cailliard (1833), Dubrueil 

 (1847), Ellis (1853), Auzias-Turenne (1854), Fagge (1864), 

 Hochstetter (1890), Pronant (1891), Manno (1906). 



Auburtin (1905) has shown that the lateral circumflex is made 

 up of a number of separate arteries which are represented by a 

 common stem in 72 per cent., Lipschutz (1915) 75 per cent. 

 Schwegel observed the obturator from the lateral circumflex. Pye- 

 Smith observed the artery taking a very superficial course and also 

 arising from the superficial femoral. 



